disability Archives - Page 7 of 7 - Forever In Mom Genes

Tires and Tears

Jan 14 2011

If a Mom cries in Canadian Tire, does she make a sound? Monday we got a call from Sick Kids Hospital asking us to fill a last minute cancellation at the Sleep Study lab. We’d been waiting awhile, so I jumped at the chance. I picked up both kids from school and whisked them over to Canadian tire. Only a week after replacing my slashed rear tire, it seemed I now had a nail in a front tire. I didn’t want to risk driving on the highway on an impaled tire. I explained we were in a rush and the tire maven at the desk said she would see what they could do to get it fixed fast. All I had to do now was wait. Oh, and entertain my two tired children.Ya, there was that. My patient son was fine. He always is. Avery however had just pooped her Pull-Up (TMI, but it sets the mood), was hungry, thirsty and generally annoyed. The candy dispenser kept her amused for about three minutes. Apparently it’s a hoot eating Skittles off the dirty garage floor. Know what else is fun? Dumping a basket of sugar packets all over the floor and[…]

Sep 20 2010

Parenting a child with special needs is challenging in ways I never expected. The love I feel for both my children is equal, but the fear and uncertainty around my daughter is more gut wrenching and harder to shake. I’m sure friends and family had a betting pool about the state I’d be in today. Sorry to disappoint those who put their money on Train Wreck. Turns out, this morning I was merely a titch tender. What these gamblers didn’t know was I got most of my tears out yesterday. What set me off was making lunches for the kids last night. As I quartered Avery’s grapes, it hit me that I wouldn’t be there to help her. I boo-hooed as I cut off her sandwich crusts and sobbed when I noticed tears had fallen on her bread. During this melt down my poor husband was doing the nervous eye dart, back and forth as if to say, “My wife has lost it. What do I do now? Anyone. Anyone??” Fortunately an intervention wasn’t necessary. By the time I’d moved on to filling the water bottles, I’d pulled it together. But then later, I read this message on Twitter: Cue more[…]

May 05 2009

Our daughter had ear tube surgery today. Not a major procedure, but to me it may as well have been a brain transplant. Avery is 33 months old and isn’t talking. She has underlying genetic issues that are likely the cause, but we also know she has fluid in her ears. A whole lot of gunky fluid. What is “Glue Ear?” She failed hearing test after hearing test. They finally put a number on it – 40% hearing loss which is like listening while pressing both hands tightly against your ears. We decided to go ahead with the ear tube insertion. It would help Avery hear and hopefully speak clearly. We hesitated only because her genetic condition also includes cardiac issues which can make anaesthesia more risky. We arrived at the hospital at 7 am and took a seat in the surgical waiting area with the other gowned patients. Everyone wore the same expression of exhaustion, fear and nervous anxiety. I tried not to touch anything and probably used the community hand-sanitizer more often than would be considered NOT INSANE. While we went through the pre-surgery protocol, I kissed Avery’s little blond head a hundred times. We sat and watched[…]

Apr 17 2009

If you’d told me that one day I’d leave my job to be a stay at home mom, I never would have believed it. I went to school to be a teacher dammit. I’ve always wanted to be a teacher. As if I’d give that up… Of course I love my kids and I want to be with them. But not like, all the time. I’d always planned to parent AND work—in perfect balance. Because that’s totally doable, right? I thoroughly enjoyed mat leaves with both my babies, but knowing I’d soon be back at work made it easier to enjoy every moment. The light at the end of the tunnel shone bright. Mid-way through my mat leave with my second child, daycare was set up, schedules were organized and I was ready to go back to the classroom I loved, to a job I was really good at, blissfully unaware that things were about to change. At 8 months, our daughter became very ill and was hospitalized. Avery was diagnosed with a rare (as in one-of-a-kind-where-in-the-hell-did-this-come-from-holy-shit) genetic condition. Doctors didn’t have much information so we had no idea what to expect. The geneticist painted a grim picture, tossing out gems like,[…]

Category - disability

Tires and Tears

Nothing Says Sad Like A Soggy Sandwich—First Day Of Kindergarten

Paging Dr. McDreamy—Ear Tube Surgery

I’m Lucky To Be A Stay At Home Mom